A few days late due to Toy Fair, but it's still Hasbro's answers to SSG questions for February 27th, 2008. Thanks again to Hasbro for the answers, to all the folks who sent in questions and especially those who voted on them.

Hasbro Q&A for the week of February 27th

Q: Would Hasbro ever consider releasing figures based off artist Feng Zhu's Imperial Recruitment posters which appeared in the Star Wars: Visionaires comic series, perhaps as Comic 2-Packs? There's 2 designs in the official series, and 4 more posters (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Recruitment) drawn but not released. Besides the sexy female recruits in the posters, the SW: Visionaries comic has other great characters like cyborg Darth Maul, Darth Sidious and the Sithisis Worm, Corporal Jobin just to name a few that would make great action figures, especially coming off the heels of the TAC concept figures since the comic was done by ROTS concept artists.
A: We love those posters, but it's very doubtful that we'd do figure versions of them. We will confirm that at least one of the figures you mention will become a figure before too long based on a Visionaries story.

Q: Concerning pegwarmers and Saga Legends taking up TAC shelfspace, back on Sept 28th you told us "stores will be resupplied based on what has sold down, not based on what is sitting on what pegs, which is invisible to the automated ordering systems. So if Saga Legends is selling in those stores, it will be reordered. If 30th Anniv. is selling, it will be reordered. To finish that discussion - the stock of one has no impact on the other." Understanding that you have the 2 separate SKUs and assortment numbers in place to avoid these problems, what your argument seems to miss is the rampant amount of human error in the process, pegging Saga Legends on TAC pegs (whether done by store employees, or customers who simply don't notice the difference between the red accents vs orange accents of the basic cards), so in your argument, if Saga Legends takes up all the pegspace, TAC can never sell down and be reordered because it never leaves the back rooms to hit the pegs in the first place. Keep in mind, the TAC & SL cards are pretty much visually identical, and the assortment numbers which are supposed to separate them don't stand out on packaging and at a quick glance appear the same (87500 vs 85770) especially for an overworked, underpaid retail employee who is trying to get too many things done at once. So how can sales be generated for a specific product if it doesn't reach the floor in the first place?
A: What you outline is a problem if *only* one (or the other) of the assortment is put out at the exclusion of the other. The same risk - that of human error - has always existed with side-by-side figure lines in Star Wars. Since all case packs are clearly marked by assortment, and replenishment is directed automatically, the impact of human error is minimized.

Q: What are the chances of seeing an Evolutions set of the Seperatists' droids, consisting of updated, all-new versions of the Battle Droid, Super Battle Droid, and IG-100 MagnaGuard (aka Grievous' Bodyguard)?
A: We just did a new Super Battle Droid in the 30th Anniversary Collection, so we do not have plans to do a set like this although we acknowledge that both regular BD's and Magna Droids are in need of a new sculpt at some point.

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And the questions at ActionFigs.com (http://www.actionfigs.com/index.php?categoryid=12&p2_articleid=1916):
With photos confirming Tsui Choi from the Order 66 2packs now out there, are we likely to see Ratts Tyrell - another member of the same species - in 2008? Could we see 1-2 Podracer figures per year the way we're now seeing Ewoks?
Do you have any plans to release the V-Wing Fighter in Imperial colors as seen at the end of ROTS?
Now that we're getting an ROTS-specific 2-1B droid, is there any chance we'll be seeing an updated ESB-specific version in the near future? There are many differences between the two designs, both large and small, including head, torso, arms and legs - which is pretty much everything - so the ROTS one wouldn't really fit in an ESB scene. 2-1B is one of the rare OT non-hero droids to actually have lines, and is quite memorable, so an update would be much appreciated.

JediTricks

02-27-2008, 03:49 PM

I'm unbelievably annoyed at the answer on that second question about pegspace. All the bulletproofing that I did got completely ignored in place of the same answer we already have which didn't take any of those factors into account.

Yep that's what i thought as well, which is good news, I wonder if they will do this as a comic pack...or a single card? Good news though!

Battle Droid

02-27-2008, 04:04 PM

I hope it's in a comic 2-Pack with old Ben Kenobi.

jedi master sal

02-27-2008, 04:04 PM

I'm unbelievably annoyed at the answer on that second question about pegspace. All the bulletproofing that I did got completely ignored in place of the same answer we already have which didn't take any of those factors into account.

Yeah, pretty lame answer indeed.

However for the first question, I'm banking on us getting the Cyborg Maul. I'd be psyched to get that figure. It was a VERY neat idea and would definitely translate well to a figure.

On the Sep Droids, I'm really hoping for a much better Battle Droid. Articulation for one. (And NO NOT the animated version)

bigbarada

02-27-2008, 04:18 PM

Hasbro Q&A for the week of February 27th

Q: Would Hasbro ever consider releasing figures based off artist Feng Zhu's Imperial Recruitment posters which appeared in the Star Wars: Visionaires comic series, perhaps as Comic 2-Packs? There's 2 designs in the official series, and 4 more posters (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Recruitment) drawn but not released. Besides the sexy female recruits in the posters, the SW: Visionaries comic has other great characters like cyborg Darth Maul, Darth Sidious and the Sithisis Worm, Corporal Jobin just to name a few that would make great action figures, especially coming off the heels of the TAC concept figures since the comic was done by ROTS concept artists.
A: We love those posters, but it's very doubtful that we'd do figure versions of them. We will confirm that at least one of the figures you mention will become a figure before too long based on a Visionaries story.

That's the first I've ever seen of those posters. All I can say is that I'm glad Hasbro has no plans to make action figures based on them. Talk about cheapening the franchise, that's just disgraceful.:mad:

El Chuxter

02-27-2008, 04:48 PM

Woo! Cyborg Maul!

$8 more I can save.

Cyborg Maul is an affront to human decency. Whoever contributed that story to Visionaries needs to be kicked in the nards by every member of the human race, then sent to Mars to die.

That's the first I've ever seen of those posters. All I can say is that I'm glad Hasbro has no plans to make action figures based on them. Talk about cheapening the franchise, that's just disgraceful.:mad:

How's asking for a female Tie Fighter Pilot, Scout Trooper or a Sith Witch disgraceful to the OT? Is the empire a boy's only club even in the modern era of the franchise? Apparently it's not by Juno Eclipse being added to the line...Oh but wait she wasn't in the holy trilogy.

El Chuxter

02-27-2008, 06:11 PM

I just read this on the page JT linked to with the posters:

Although these [additional four] images were created by a licensed artist, they were not present in Visionaries, and are thus non-canon.
Do they not realize that none of Visionaries is canon, especially that retarded Cyborg Maul story? Not even Pre-Cyborg Grievous, although it (unlike the other stories) at least mostly gels with everything else.

And the Empire is supposed to be a "boy's only club." I don't base that on the movies. I base it on earlier EU that's superior to anything else I've read since. There were two exceptions: Daala, promoted in secret, and Ysard, who was in her role partly because her father had been.

Jedi_Kal-El

02-27-2008, 06:16 PM

I'm unbelievably annoyed at the answer on that second question about pegspace. All the bulletproofing that I did got completely ignored in place of the same answer we already have which didn't take any of those factors into account.

Just like them to side step though. They try to act like it isn't a big deal, and pretend it doesn't happen by ignoring it altogether.

bigbarada

02-27-2008, 07:14 PM

How's asking for a female Tie Fighter Pilot, Scout Trooper or a Sith Witch disgraceful to the OT? Is the empire a boy's only club even in the modern era of the franchise? Apparently it's not by Juno Eclipse being added to the line...Oh but wait she wasn't in the holy trilogy.

I'm not talking about the idea of female Imperials, I'm talking about turning Star Wars into this ridiculous soft-porn, masturbation material for lonely fanboys. That's what I mean by degrading the franchise.

And yes, the Empire should be a human-male only military, NOT an equal-opportunity organization. So, NO women in the Imperial ranks, that's one of the things that makes them bad guys.

The Rebels allow women to hold positions of power, thus they are good guys.:yes:

The strength of the original films was the clear black-&-white delineation between good and evil. Trying to make the Imperials more appealing and fan-friendly just compromises the whole theme of the original Star Wars.

Sinscia Fat'o

02-27-2008, 07:33 PM

I'm not talking about the idea of female Imperials, I'm talking about turning Star Wars into this ridiculous soft-porn, masturbation material for lonely fanboys. That's what I mean by degrading the franchise.

And yes, the Empire should be a human-male only military, NOT an equal-opportunity organization. So, NO women in the Imperial ranks, that's one of the things that makes them bad guys.

The Rebels allow women to hold positions of power, thus they are good guys.:yes:

The strength of the original films was the clear black-&-white delineation between good and evil. Trying to make the Imperials more appealing and fan-friendly just compromises the whole theme of the original Star Wars.

I don't see how any of those images are Wanking material or soft porn as you put it. Adding female villians doesn't degrate anything but promote the morality of equality, which is one of the themes of the franchise, at least from a certain point of view.

The way i'm looking at it is the empire is out for Palaptine's agenda and if he can find someone or something (Dala and Thrawn being great examples of this...) Why shouldn't he use and mannipulate these individuals for all their worth, which is what they did...besides Daala slept her way through the ranks...with Tarkin. And besides there were female Tie Fighter pilots...There was one in the scythe squadron if i may recall. She was in the ESB...did that degrate the franchise?

The theme of star wars from the PT and OT points of view is clear cut black and white. I'm not seeing how figures of these "Non Cannon" generic figures makes anything more fan friendly...the way i see it is: being able to add something new and different to displays and collections, nothing degrading, or "Fan Friendly" or smutty, just a freakin toy of a female Scout Trooper, or Tie Fighter pilot...or a bloody Sith Witch.

bigbarada

02-27-2008, 10:32 PM

I don't see how any of those images are Wanking material or soft porn as you put it. Adding female villians doesn't degrate anything but promote the morality of equality, which is one of the themes of the franchise, at least from a certain point of view.

The way i'm looking at it is the empire is out for Palaptine's agenda and if he can find someone or something (Dala and Thrawn being great examples of this...) Why shouldn't he use and mannipulate these individuals for all their worth, which is what they did...besides Daala slept her way through the ranks...with Tarkin. And besides there were female Tie Fighter pilots...There was one in the scythe squadron if i may recall. She was in the ESB...did that degrate the franchise?

The theme of star wars from the PT and OT points of view is clear cut black and white. I'm not seeing how figures of these "Non Cannon" generic figures makes anything more fan friendly...the way i see it is: being able to add something new and different to displays and collections, nothing degrading, or "Fan Friendly" or smutty, just a freakin toy of a female Scout Trooper, or Tie Fighter pilot...or a bloody Sith Witch.

There were never any Imperial females in the movies. I don't care what the novels or comic books say.

But you miss my point completely. I don't have a problem with them interjecting females into the films where they weren't shown. I'm talking about showing those women wearing skintight outfits and undressing with butts and breasts hanging out. That's what's degrading, not just to Star Wars, but to women in general.

Tycho

02-27-2008, 11:02 PM

You all know what I think. :yes:

JediTricks

02-28-2008, 02:00 AM

About the Imperial V-Wing repaint being made, they made a Titanium version of it already, what gives?Titanium Series are cheaper and venture into EU repaints all the time. To be honest, I don't remember Imperial-themed V-wings in the film and if I had noticed that part of the question, I wouldn't have sent it in without first verifying they're actually in there.

Yep that's what i thought as well, which is good news, I wonder if they will do this as a comic pack...or a single card? Good news though!Yeah, the other choices seem far less likely than Maul who has been asked about several times and is a popular action figure in general. Seems like since it's a comic anyway, might as well do it as a comic pack.

On the Sep Droids, I'm really hoping for a much better Battle Droid. Articulation for one. (And NO NOT the animated version)Yeah, I agree, they need to get this done, might as well make it a transforming one too since we have one that's ALMOST able to do this as-is but they blocked it. And the animated one, while nice-looking, is different enough that it won't cut it, the Kenner Droids line in reverse won't do.

That's the first I've ever seen of those posters. All I can say is that I'm glad Hasbro has no plans to make action figures based on them. Talk about cheapening the franchise, that's just disgraceful.:mad::eek:?

Woo! Cyborg Maul!

$8 more I can save.

Cyborg Maul is an affront to human decency. Whoever contributed that story to Visionaries needs to be kicked in the nards by every member of the human race, then sent to Mars to die.

Seriously, Cyborg Maul makes me long for S***-Kicked-Out-Of-Him P**** Vader.:eek:? I honestly don't get either yours or BB's posts about those, they're just different ideas.

I just read this on the page JT linked to with the posters:

Do they not realize that none of Visionaries is canon, especially that retarded Cyborg Maul story? Not even Pre-Cyborg Grievous, although it (unlike the other stories) at least mostly gels with everything else.

And the Empire is supposed to be a "boy's only club." I don't base that on the movies. I base it on earlier EU that's superior to anything else I've read since. There were two exceptions: Daala, promoted in secret, and Ysard, who was in her role partly because her father had been.It's wookieepedia, rewrite it.

I'm not talking about the idea of female Imperials, I'm talking about turning Star Wars into this ridiculous soft-porn, masturbation material for lonely fanboys. That's what I mean by degrading the franchise.It went there when Hasbro made Unleashed Leia, that was the line that once crossed could not be taken back.

But you miss my point completely. I don't have a problem with them interjecting females into the films where they weren't shown. I'm talking about showing those women wearing skintight outfits and undressing with butts and breasts hanging out. That's what's degrading, not just to Star Wars, but to women in general.Seems like Palps would use women in a degrading manner to drum up recruits, he'd certainly not be alone there either.